Tapie, whose business interests also included a stake in sportswear company Adidas (OTC:ADDYY), had been suffering from stomach cancer for several years.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences to Tapie’s family in a statement, saying he and his wife “have been touched by the news of the death of Bernard Tapie, whose ambition, energy and enthusiasm were a source of inspiration for generations of French people”.
A charismatic president of Marseille from 1986 to 1994, he was at the helm when OM beat AC Milan 1-0 in the final of the Champions League. He was later sent to prison for corruption in a match-fixing scandal in the French first division.
“Olympique de Marseille learned with deep sadness of the passing of Bernard Tapie. He will leave a great void in the hearts of the Marseillais and will forever remain in the legend of the club,” OM said in a statement.
Source: Economy - investing.com
